Fatah Blames Iran for Failure of Unity with Hamas

Fatah spokesman clams Iran paid Hamas to back out of implementing the reconciliation deal between the two factions.

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Elad Benari, 21/03/12 03:14

Hamas leader Mashaal and PA's Abbas in Cairo

Reuters

A spokesman for Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement claimed on Tuesday that Iran had paid rival group Hamas to back out of implementing the reconciliation deal between the two factions.

According to the spokesman, Ahmed Assaf, Iran paid Hamas tens of millions of dollars to avoid implementing the agreement.

“We have information that Tehran paid tens of millions of dollars to Mahmoud Al-Zahar and Ismail Haniyeh during their visits to Iran,” Assaf said.

Assaf explained that Iran has renewed its financial support for Hamas, after a six-month suspension that came about as a result of Hamas’ refusal to support Syrian President Bashar Assad during the uprising against his regime.

The Hamas politburo recently agreed to a deal in Qatar with Abbas to form an interim government of technocrats.

However, Hamas leaders in Gaza ambushed politburo chief Khaled Mashaal after-the-fact with a raft of new demands observers say Fatah will never agree to.

The last minute bait-and-switch by the terror organization’s Gaza leadership underscores a deepening rift within Hamas.

Last week, Fatah officials admitted they do not expect Hamas leaders to follow through on Hamas’ end of the reconciliation deal "anytime soon."